I posted this yesterday (at least, I could have sworn I did!) - but now don't see the thread anywhere! If anyone sees a duplicate, please let me know so I can delete one of them!

Anyway, has anyone seen this news about Miami's budget crunch, and the proposal to cut the film office? I'm wondering how this will affect Burn Notice. See part of article clipped below (underlining is mine), then read the rest at the link:


Sept 21, 2009
Miami Herald
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/southflori...ry/1243570.html


Miami could cut once-untouchable agencies




Patti

I saw the article and am waiting to see what happens with Thursday's meeting. Hard to say how much the loss of the film office would affect things, especially now when they're not filming.

Only vaguely related to this, but another area ripe for cutting are Miami's NET offices (neighborhood enhancement). I mention this because I think the Coconut Grove one was used in filming "Rough Seas," based on this photo in the Grapevine. Not that they'd tear down the building or anything, but just one more thing.

The article quoted someone who was "doing polling for Diaz", which leads me to believe this is an election year for the mayor's office. If that's true, at least half of what they say is politically motivated. Miami is not the only city having financial difficulties. Cities and states across the country are facing budget shortages. I don't know what the film office does for Burn Notice so I can't evaluate what their loss would mean for the show. It's likely that they facilitate the issuing of permits, etc. to allow for the closing of streets for filming. The city would still have to issue permits for a variety of reasons and I'm sure there are fees associated with those permits providing a revenue stream that they need.

In this economy it doesn't make sense for a city to make it difficult or impossible for a successful TV show to continue filming in their city. The show creates jobs, provides free advertising and income for the city.

hi all


remember, politics and wisdom have never gone hand in hand.

Wasn't there some other political flap some months ago that forced the producers to consider filming "Burn Notice" in Louisiana?

To answer a couple of questions:




Yes, it is an election year. Mayor Diaz is term-limited. Two of the city commissioners (Joe Sanchez and Tomas Regalado) are vying to replace him.

Although the entire country is in difficult financial straits, I would call them harsher here in Florida for several reasons, most prominently the fact that we have no state income tax and all revenues come from sales tax and property tax. With a real estate market that has plummeted over the past 3 years, those property taxes have taken a dive too (mine stand to drop $1,000 if my city's budget passes). As a taxpayer, that's nice, but as someone who uses the services, not so nice.



The Coconut Grove Expo Center (aka BN studio) is in a location slated for a long-term waterfront redevelopment project. This was supposed to be the last year BN could film there before its demolition. In May, the city commission agreed to give them a one-year extension because the waterfront plans are stalled and BN does bring in money.

Is this Diaz's second term?

I understand what you're saying about the revenue stream in Florida. I'm assuming that Florida wouldn't consider imposing a state income tax because of all the retirees in the state. It's pretty simple math though. You can't spend what you don't have. They'll have to cut spending or raise taxes. It's the same story everywhere. Of course, we do have a state income tax in NY but unemployment is high. My property taxes have gone down along with property values and the town is struggling with their budget too. Most municipalities have huge pension/benefit expense due to union contracts with civil service employees. It's going to be difficult for them to break that pattern going forward.

I definitely understand what you're saying about the budget issues. Here in CA we do have a state income tax, but it isn't really helping all that much. Lots of cuts (especially to education, which seems inefficient in the long run) and real estate is all over the place and fires haven't helped. The Governator even had a state garage sale. Yes, mocking is allowed. I see the logic, but it's still weird.

My thought on this, though, is that it would be very unwise and potentially problematic to a political future if someone were to alienate a hugely popular show that brings industry, more tourists, jobs, money, free advertisement, etc. to the city. My little town has been sprucing itself up in the past few years to gain more of that kind of attention. It's not nearly as big as Miami, but it's not far from Hollywood so they want to bring that in, not shut it out. I hope the possible loss of the film office is either stopped or won't hurt BN or Miami too much. =/

I wonder what, exactly, a film office does? A liason with the city/film crew? I would guess, if that were to be eliminated, non-city employees (provided by Fox, USA, whomever) would then take over their duties?



I live in PA. Last I checked, there STILL is not a state budget. It was getting pretty crazy there for a while - no state employee (including my dad!) was even getting paid. I think the payless paydays lasted about a month or so. I'm still wondering how "fast eddie rendel" managed to squander $60 billion in slot machine revenue. But I digress. The point is, whenever there is a budget some things have to be cut. And no matter what is cut, somebody will be unhappy. The paradox of politics, chances are good that no matter what you do, roughly half your constituents will be unhappy.



I really only wanted to respond to this to say, in a way, I'm kind of jealous. You live in FL AND your taxes could go down? Mine went up 4.8% I believe - the maximum allowed by law.




The garage sale isn't weird. Local governments have been doing that for years. Police departments always auction off stuff confiscated from "criminals." I know you're coming from a place of loving a particular tv show, but none of us really know how the voters within Miami feel about the issue. (Karendipitee maybe tho??) Maybe they hate the hassle? Maybe they'd much rather sacrifice the film office than some other services?

An interesting topic none the less...

I am curious what the film office does too. Really not sure, although the head of it talked to DanJ and me briefly one day when we watched filming. I wanted to talk to him more but he disappeared.

Yes, taxes going down are nice and did surprise me. Of course, we have some of the lowest unemployment benefits around and our schools are pretty lousy.

I can't really speak to how Miamians feel about it. I am only an hour away, but South Florida is segmented enough that my local TV and radio stations are from West Palm, not Miami. I think most of us have experienced tons of people who have never heard of the show, and I have seen the same here, right where it's filmed.

People react to the issues that affect them. The greatest public reaction I remember in recent years was when the state cut the budget for the Road Rangers, tow trucks that patrol I-95. They got reinstated because everyone has either had a flat and been saved by them or knows someone who has (they get there faster than AAA).

Bad Move on their part. I never really considered FL as a travel destination living on the other coast but I really wanted to visit after BN. I have heard a few more comments on the board in the same direction...they REALLY ought to think this out...

The city did finally pass a budget Tuesday night (was supposed to be last Thursday). The Herald story details some cuts, but does not mention if the film office was part of the cuts.

Thanks for the update, Karen!

Here's a bit of an update from the Herald, not on the budget, but on the Miami mayoral candidates discussing Coconut Grove. They both say they support Burn Notice staying at the expo center.

Thanks, that situation really interests me.

From the article:

Damn straight. At least we see that someone recognizes that. $30 million isn't a small chunk of change. And that probably doesn't include people who go down there now as tourists (like me) just because they've seen how cool the city is from the show.

Hmm, be careful. The phrase, "...we need to explore allowing Burn Notice to stay..." is not what it may seem. The key word is "explore." That is not affirmative. Furthermore, the allusion to "..allowing..." BN to continue working out of the Expo Center smells of double talk. IMO this is carefully worded campaign rhetoric, designed to appease supporters of BN and the Miami film industry in an effort to court votes. There is no promise of anything in the statement above. The correct phrase would be, "We will allow Burn Notice to stay."

Once "...the money to proceed with the first phase of the master plan..." comes in, watch and see how quickly they try to run BN out of the Grove. If you want to know where Sanchez and Regalado really stand on this matter, look into their past accomplishments while in office. I don't know what those may be, but that will tell the true tale.

Finally found info about the Miami film office in Miami Today. Their budget did not make it into the city's, so the former office is now down to the one guy I think DanJ and I met. It does seem that Burn Notice is their priority, but the lack of budget and staff will make it harder to attract other productions and may make it tougher when BN is filming.

Thanks for the update, Karen. Boy it doesn't sound good for BN's future in Miami. :-( I don't recall - how long is BN's "contract" to film in the Expo Center? Was just for Season 3 filming, or are they all set for Season 4 as well?

Patti

I believe when the waterfront plan originated, BN was supposed to finish at the expo center with this past S3 filming. That was part of the reason they changed the schedule to finish in August, whereas in 2008 they went into the first week of October. At the city commission hearing in May, the commission gave them a one-year extension, although that did not specify if it meant one year from May or one more year/season of filming.

I think they are secure as long as there is no great impetus to get the waterfront reconstruction going. That will cost money in the short run, while BN brings in $30K a month rent in the short run. Plus jobs.